SELF CONVERSATIONS | With Alyce Cimino of Ahara Health
Alyce is a Northern Beaches local, Mum to two boys Huxley and Austin and has a passion for wholefood nutrition and herbal medicine. It was her dream to encourage others to use food as medicine, support health and boost wellbeing and vitality. Alyce believes that good health starts with good food and it is the most important building block for wellness.
We got a peak into Alyce's day to day life, how she creates balance and the daily rituals that nourish her from the inside out.
What does your morning routine look like?
At the moment with a 1 and 3 year old, the mornings can be a little crazy but I also love the few moments of stillness that they can bring. My youngest loves an early start, so we usually cuddle on the couch while I sip tea and wait for the sun to rise. On the mornings that I can slip away I am really enjoying pilates to get the day moving. It’s a quick shower, change and off into the clinic to start my day there. When ever I am driving to work I try and stop at Warriewood headland just to pause for a few moments.
Getting out into nature! there is so much magic in a few moments in nature that just helps to revitalise all your cells. You always return a little bit fresher and with your battery. At the moment, the crisp air is just perfection! And to return home to a herbal tea, ah its bliss!
It absolutely has changed over the years, especially since having children. I now am grateful and treasure even the smallest of moments. Sometimes self care looks like a pilates class, a massage, a solo stroll or it can be a few moments sitting (hiding) in the backyard nibbling chocolate while the kids are playing.
I always knew I wanted to be in health and support people on their health journey, after completing my degree in health science and becoming a Naturopath I worked in a few different wellness areas but it just wasn’t quite the right fit. I wanted to create a space that welcomed people in, so they could sit, be heard and make changes to improve their wellbeing. I wanted AHARA HEALTH to be a space to unfold, a space to feel heard and a space to create change. I love working for myself, I love seeing all the hard work pay off and the progress of our clients.
At the moment I am possibly listening to a disproportionate levels of crime / investigative podcasts haha but I the mental brake. I am also loving We Don't Have Time For This - for the mum chat and a few great health ones which make it into the rotation. I am listening more to audiobooks at the moment as well which i'm loving!
Routine is a big thing for me, I have consulting days and business days which I find helpful. I also like to get into the clinic an hour or so earlier than required each day so that I can go through emails, tick off to-do lists and look over clients progress notes.
First step is to keep track of your symptoms and see how things are looking for you, do your symptoms worsen only before a bleed or is there change at ovulation as well? Secondary to that we want to go straight into dietary support. PMS usually is a cause of dysregulation of hormones, so we work with women to ensure they are eating the right foods to create hormonal balance - simple changes such as having adequate protein intake and blood glucose regulation can make a big impact on PMS. We also want to support elimination pathways so that hormones are able to clear the body effectively - which in turn supports how progesterone can function, our magic relaxing hormone which rises after ovulation.
Exercise has never been my most favourite pastime but its also something I am working on, I do really enjoy reformer and aim to go a min of 3 times a week, but I always enjoy a walk with friends or family. I have a little dachshund who also doesn’t love exercise so you can often find me walking and carrying her when she goes on strike.
Though it doesn't happen every night, I like to finish the day off my phone. I have it set hours that do not disturb goes on at 7:30pm. I usually finish the day with a magnesium powder to support my nervous system and dinner will always have enough protein to support my sleep as well. I love an early bed time, I am usually in bed between 9-9:30 most nights (some nights even earlier). We have created our bed to be a little sanctuary, cozy sheets, mattress topper that feels like your being hugged from all angles, pillows just to perfection! I am a big fan of an silk eye mask, the little bit of pressure on your eyes and the complete darkness works so well to encourage a good night sleep.
It would have to have been when I was in primary school, both my sister and mum went together to a salon in mona vale (and it’s still there!) I remember that head massage and instantly fell in love.
The moment you step up out of a hair salon chair haha
- Eat breakfast
- Eat protein
- Create time for you; it can be a hobby or tea in the garden. We all need a few moments of slow.
I am a big fan of a slow cooker, the fact that you can come home to a fully cooked meal with little clean up is always going to be a win for me! But the key to eating well is being prepared, have veggies cut up in the fridge to add into meals for a veggie boost, roast veggies on the weekend and throw them into a quinoa salad or frittata. The best tool that I have found to create healthy eating accessible is to sit down and meal prep, look at the week and create meals that you can build onto and take left overs for lunches. Look at meals that work with your schedule and your family’s scheduled.What’s your goto easy meal to prep for the family this season?